The 20-year-old Hutchinson man who was arrested back on April 4, for two counts of electronic solicitation faces three additional charges.
Matthew O’Keefe appeared via-video from the Reno County Jail where he was told of the charges which includes electronic solicitation of a 13-year-old girl and a second count for contact with what he thought was a 15-year-old girl.
Other charges includes attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child which is alleged to have occurred between March 18 and April 4. Then an additional charge of electronic solicitation for contact with a 15-year-old child allegedly occurring between November 1, 2012 and January 26, 2013. The final count is for aggravated indecent solicitation of a child under 14, occurring during that same time period.
Two of the counts listed in the complaint are filed a level 1 person felonies, but District Attorney Keith Schroeder believes that at least two of the counts should be off grid felonies under Jessica’s Law. So, we may see the complaint refiled at some point to reflect that.
The case started when O’Keefe allegedly made contact online with a 13-year-old girl back in March and solicited a sexual encounter.
Hutchinson Police Detective Scott Carlton says he then made contact with O’Keefe on Facebook as a 15-year-old girl and began chatting with him and they decided to meet last Friday at Rice Park, on the city’s west side. O’Keefe showed up thinking he was going to meet the 15-year-old girl, but met police instead.
But, apparently there are some incidents that go back even further with the additional charges.
Bond in the case was only set at 15-thousand dollars at the time of his arrest and he asked for a reduction which was opposed by Schroeder. Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen raised the bond to 25-thousand which is still very low considering the seriousness of the charges.